Born on October 21, 1925, in Havana, Cuba, Ursula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso became one of the most renowned Latin singers of the 20th century. Her illustrious career earned her the titles “The Queen of Latin Music” and “Queen of Salsa”.
Cruz accumulated a net worth of $1 million through her successful singing career, which comprised 23 gold-selling albums and ventures in film, television, and radio. Her influence was acknowledged by numerous institutions and organizations around the world.
Celia’s upbringing during the 1930s in culturally diverse Cuba exposed her to various musical genres and languages. Despite her mother’s opposition, she managed to learn Santeria, a religious language used in songs, and the West African language, Yoruba. She pursued a singing career after realizing the lucrative nature of the entertainment industry, winning multiple competitions along the way.
During the 1950s and 60s, she joined the group Sonora Matancera, which led to cameo appearances in films such as “Amorcito Corazon” and “Rincon Criollo”. After Fidel Castro assumed power in Cuba, Cruz was banned from returning to her homeland. She and her husband then became U.S. citizens, where Cruz continued to produce music and albums, creating eight albums for Tico Records and eventually joining the Vaya Records Label.
In 1974, she collaborated with Johnny Pacheco on the album “Celia y Johnny”, which propelled her into the “Fania All-Stars”, allowing her to travel globally to perform. Cruz also made notable appearances in the documentary “Salsa” and the film “The Mambo Kings”.
Throughout her career, Cruz received numerous awards, including a Grammy for Best Tropical Performance with Ray Barretto, the National Medal of Arts by Bill Clinton, and induction into the Billboards Latin Music Hall of Fame.
Cruz married Pedro Knight in 1962 and lived with him in the U.S. after being banned from Cuba. She was diagnosed with brain cancer and passed away on July 16, 2003, with over 200,000 fans attending her funeral and vigils taking place worldwide.
Net Worth | $1 Million |
Date Of Birth | October 21, 1925, Havana, Cuba |
Died | July 16, 2003, Fort Lee, New Jersey, United States |
Profession | Singer |
Nationality | Cuban-American |
Spouse | Pedro Knight (m. 1962–2003) |
IMDB | www.imdb.com/name/nm0190272 |
Awards | National Medal of Arts (1994), Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Performance (1990), International Latin Music Hall of Fame (1999), “La Guarachera de Cuba” |
Record Labels | Tico Records, Vaya Records |
Albums | La “Ritmo En El Corazon” (2089), “Siempre Viviré” (2001),Negra Tiene Tumbao (2002,2003), Celia Cruz and Friends: A Night of Salsa(2000), Regalo del Alma (2004), “Celia y Johnny” (1974) |
Music Groups | Sonora Matancera |
Movies | “The Mambo Kings”, “Amorcito Corazon”, “Rincon Criollo” (1950-1960), “Salsa” |
TV Shows | “Hora del Te”, “Fania All-Stars” |
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